Lumber strip



(No Model.)

A. MEIGS.

LUMBER STRIP.

No. 432,245. Patented July 15, 1890.

fiat/62a r 0172M? We fay W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR MEIGS, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

LUMBER STRIP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 432,245, dated July 15,1890.

Application filed December 26, 1889.: Serial No. 335,009. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR MEIGS, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city I of Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and Stateof Michigan,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in LumberStrips, of which the following is a specification."

The nature of my invention relates to a new and improved lumber stripprepared for blindnailing, and the same is especially adapted toflooring, wainscoting, and lumber used for slmilar purposes wherever itis desirable to leave a smooth surface without disclosing the nails orscrews usedin attaching the lumber.

The invention consists in making the oblique saw-kerf in the edge of thelumber, the same extending to a point beneath the upper surface and cutobliquely inward, so as to out the inner or lower surface, such saw-kerfbeing thin or narrow, forming a slot of less thickness than thethickness of the nails used in attaching the lumber strip.

It also consists in the cutting of an oblique slot at the end of theboard whenever it is found desirable to attach the board at thatparticular point. ,These slots are cut at such distances apart as tocorrespond with the distance from center to center of the joist orstudding to which the lumber is to be attached.

The objects of the invention are, first, to form a cheap method ofpreparing lumber for blind-nailin g, and, second, to prepare the lumberso that the nails can be readily driven to their positions, the headsthereof being entirely covered from sight. These objects I accomplish bymeans of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 shows a bottom view of the flooring-strip provided withthe saw kerf or slots. Fig. 2 shows a series of boards provided with sawkerfs or slots, together with the nails which attach the boards to thejoist, the same being a sectional view through the points of attachment.Fig. 3 shows a bottom view of a flooring-strip provided with the obliqueslots and also with the end slot. Fig. 4 shows the under side of a boardprovided with the oblique slots and with the end slot. .It will beobserved that Fig. 4 does not show a tongued or grooved piece, butsimply a plain board.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In Fig. 1, A represents a board having a groove in one side and a tonguein the other, said groovebeing shown by V and said tongue by T.

G Grepresent two oblique kerfs cut from a point at or near the top ofthe tongue, and through what would be, when attached, the under side ofthe board. The form of this groove is shown more fully in Fig. 2, wherethe kerfs are filled by the nails N N. a In Fig. 2, A, B, and 0represent the three flooring-strips, and I represents the joist to whichthey are attached by means of the nails N N.

Fig. 3 also represents a flooring-strip provided with the saw kerf orslot G, and aslot cut into the end of the board in the form shown by H(In ordinary construction the slots G G are cut with an ordinary circularsaw; but they may be i cut by any suitable implement for cutting anarrow slot. The slot II is also cut by a saw into the end of the boardin the form shown.

In laying floors it will frequently be found unnecessary to use the slotII, providing the slots G G are sufficiently near the ends of the boardsto hold them in place; but in all cases where it is found necessary toattach the end of the board I prefer to use the slot cut in the formshown by H, rather than the oblique slot G, which, if placed near theend of the lumber, might causethe portion between the end and the slotto split.

In Fig. 4 it will be seen that the board is merely a plain board Withouttongue or groove, and when plain boards are used I deem it advisable tocut the saw kerfs or slots G, so that they will nearly reach the surfaceof the board, in order to give the nail a greater hold upon the board.hen tongued or grooved lumber strips are used, as shown in Figs. 1,2,and 3, I prefer to have the saw kerf or slot G terminate at the junctionof the tongue with the shoulder above the tongue, as shown in Fig.

2, for the reason that this will bring the head of the nail at theangle, will allow considerable thickness above the head of the nail,andstill leave enough of the board below the head of the nail to givesufficient strength for the attachment.

I have found by experience that a nail driven through the saw kerf orslot will not split or injure the board, although the saw-kerf be verynarrow, and that the nail will receive sufiicient hold upon the board tosecure it, Whether the same be flooring or wainscoting. If founddesirable, the slot may be extended nearer the upper surface of theflooring-strip than the point where the tongue forms an angle with theshoulder, and in cases Where great strength is required it maybe founddesirable to so construct the flooring.

In laying boards and attaching them to the joist or studding thetendency of nails driven obliquely is to draw the boards together, andwhen the work is completed it will be found that the boards arepermanently and substantially attached to the joist or studding.

I do not intend to limit my invention to the peculiar form of the sawkerf or slot, nor to peculiar kinds of boards.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim to have invented, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. As a new article of manufacture, a lumber strip provided with slots,as G G, cut through the edge of the strip, leaving the uppersurfaee ofthe same whole,said slot adapted to receive nails for attaching thestrip, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a lumber strip provided with a series of slots,as G G, a slot, as H, cut into the end of the b0ard,as described, saidend slot adapted to receive a nail for blind-nailing at the end of thestrip, substantially as described.

In combination with a lumber strip provided with oblique slots, as G G,a joist or stud, as I, and nails, as N, said nails passing through theslots with their heads below the surface of the lumber strip,substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presenceof two witnesses.

ARTHUR MEIGS. [L. s]

\Vitnesses:

ARTHUR C. DENISON, HARRY P. VAN \VAGNER.

